Agum has yet to quit Cabinet

Agum has yet to quit Cabinet

JAKARTA: Despite the announcement of his candidacy as the
running mate for United Development Party (PPP) presidential
candidate Hamzah Haz, Minister of Communications Agum Gumelar has
yet to submit his letter of resignation to President Megawati
Soekarnoputri.

A staffer with the State Secretariat said the President could
not issue a decree on Agum's status until he presented an
official resignation letter.

"Because it is not the President who wants him to quit, but
the minister himself who wants to join the presidential race,"
the staffer said on Friday.

Government Regulation No. 9/2004 states that a minister has to
quit the Cabinet if he or she is contesting an election, as
senior ministers Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla have
done. --JP